my present computer is the only computer i've ever spent any real time on, being relatively new to this whole technology thing

well...

here goes

Code:

set | grep <regexp>

now, you notice that symbol after the set, but before the grep? what in the name of hell is that? I've examined my keyboard (with both eyes open, and i'm dead sober!) numerous time, and I can't seem to find this symbol anywhere. I'm finding reference to this symbol all over the internet, and it's kind of effecting my abaility to learn commands.

if someone could please email me a copy, that would be wonderfull.
(No, really, I don't have that symbol! is anyone else missing it?)

Mike it is simple to explain and imperative that you understand what a pipe is.

--------------

# set

outputs to the screen contents of your environment, bash aliaes and etc.

# set |

tells the system to pipe the output somewhere else and not to standandard output which is your monitor

# set | grep

instructs to send the output of set to the command grep. this make set the input for grep

# set | grep <regexpr>

is saying that you need to fill in content of <regexpr>

--------

Now practice:

# set

note the output of set

# set | grep LOGNAME

will display only the lines that have the uppercase string LOGNAME in it

# set | grep EDITOR

will display only the lines that have the uppercase string EDITOR in it

-----------------

Might as well bring up redirect at this point.

# set | grep EDITOR>editor$

this will direct the previous command to output by redirection to a file.

when you run the command you won't see a thing because standard output has been instructed to output to a file.

To view the contents of the newly created file as standard output, do this

# cat editor$

The $ doesn't mean anything, I used it because the > redirect will overwrite an existing file if the name is the same. Chances are you don't have a file called editor$ so it is safe bet it won't damage things by an overwrite.

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